Dickinson State University - Prairie Smoke Yearbook (Dickinson, ND)

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'Tootba.U 943 The 1943 pigskin season saw an almost completely Navy squad representing DSTC on the gridiron. The lone exception was civilian Ottmar, rugged wingman. Using the single wing with no shift, the Savages made very good use of “Pile Driving’’ Sam Zahnle’s ability to hit the center and the swift- ness of tailback Ferris on off-tackle plays. They lost two games, one a 7-0 loss to Minot, while Concordia tallied on long passes for a 26-14 win. The Savages, however, trimmed Minot 12-7 in a return game. Standouts in the forward wall were previously mentioned Ottmar, Sturgeon at tackle, and center Bob Young, who was also heavy weight boxing champion. This squad averaged about 190 pounds per man, the heaviest being Sockoloff, 221 pound tackle. Also in the forward wall making openings for ball packers were Smith, Heddin, and Gaylen at guards and “Big Boy” Loete and Regensburger at ends. Completing the back field were Brase at quarterback and Sperline at wing back.

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1944-1945 With a small but speedy team behind him, Gerlach again won the inter-collegiate basketball crown of North Dakota. Led by co-captains Ernest Johnson and Joe Hicks, the Savages had a remarkable season in which they compiled an average of 51 points a game as compared to the oppositions’ 34. Their only loss was to the Valley City quintet by a margin of 4 points. The Savages capitalized on their fast break and steady ball handling on the offensive side and always played a cool, aggressive defensive game. In one of the most outstanding games the Savages tangled with the powerful N. D. A. C. Bison in a game which should have been closely contested. Grabbing an early lead, the Savages came through to a decisive 58-31 victory. The Bison had previously shellacked the Valley City squad, which was the only team to drop the Savages. ’44-’45 Squad

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’44 Squad 944 Forming a nucleus around former high school stars coming from the West Coast, Coach Gerlach maimed his second Navy football team, which finished as co-champions of the state. Playing only four games throughout the season, the Blue and Gray won one, lost one, and tied two; the identical records of the other two V-12 schools, Valley City and Minot. Utilizing the single wing to the fullest extent, Gerlach sent his light but speedy backs on wide end sweeps, using the spinner and reverses effectively. The team never once had its full strength due to injuries which were numerous throughout the backfield and line. Lacking size and experience, the squad had great team spirit and aggressiveness, which they showed during the season. The Savages placed four men on the North Dakota All-State; Ernest Johnson, halfback; Captain Joe Widney, fullback; Joe Hicks, end; and Robert Hyman, center. 'Ttack 1944- Three meets were held for the track squad. They split with Minot and came out on the short end of a triangular meet at Valley City. Never- theless, they did have some excitement when Christopherson smashed the college car. There were four main workhorses for this cinderpath squad. Tug Neville worked in the sprints, hurdles, and broad-jump; top hurdles man was Bambi Harms, who also high-jumped; Higgins scored in the sprints and B. J.; Phil O’Neill did most of his work in the javelin and the B. J.